* Date: September 30, 2173

* Time: 9:00 AM

* Location: Adel Village

''Move it! Move it!''

Tale commanded as he and the rest made their way toward the gate. Finally, in possession of the key to unlock the deactivation sequence of the gate. The priestess and the black knight followed suit. Nadine and Hector mounted a magic beast to keep pace with the Ghost. The beast resembles a wolve but has several aesthetic changes.

[Tale! How do we lose the Kaynian following us?]

''Sarroth, call the Javelin and request close aerial bombardment on our location.''

[Interesting plan!]

The blade spirit would perform what her master has ordered. It wouldn't be long until she tapped onto the rune orb on board the Javelin. Directing her master's order via telepathy magic on the rune orb.

''Sarroth to ENS Javelin.''

''This is Captain Jules speaking. What do you need, Lady Sarroth?''

''Captain, my master requests close aerial bombardment on our location. Commence immediately.''

''Understood, turret one will direct fire on your location.''

On board, the Javelin, turret number one, spun into action and directed its sights at the ruined village. The operators of the turret received coordinates about the group's position. It wouldn't be long until they saw the invader in pursuit. The two barrels of the turret fired its potent beam of magic at the Kaynian. Beams of magic would make their way toward the Kaynian but would impact the establishments instead. Sensing that the Javelin had fired its magic cannons, the Kaynian Lord reacted accordingly and used the structures as cover. While beams pummeled the Kaynian's location, Tale and the others proceeded toward the gate. Looking behind them, Vee saw the devastation brought by the light frigate onto the Kaynian Lord. Fortunately, the airships of Elvenia used magic as their weaponry.

[Good news, everyone! The bombardment halted the Kaynian Lord.]

''That wouldn't last long. We need to reach the gate before it's too late.''

[Understood, follow the waypoint. It will lead you to the gate!]

''Double time, people!''

The group's loud footsteps echoed throughout the ruined village. Building after building, they made their way toward the gate. Obstacles such as debris, floating objects, and collapsing establishments tried to hinder them. Tale would skillfully parkour across the hurdle in front. Meanwhile, the magic beast used its powerful legs to leap across. In the distance, they would spot the gate. The group would hasten their speed and approach it rapidly. The sight of the gate painted the picture that Eldrant was close to being saved. But unfortunately, this wouldn't be the case. Within mere seconds, they would arrive at their destination. Tale would halt to a stop, prompting the beast to follow.

''Hector, Nadine, dismount and create a perimeter! Make sure that the Kaynian will not pass through!''

''It shall be done, hero!''

Hector answered with his spear at hand, dismounting the beast. After dismounting, the black knight would assist in aiding Nadine off the beast. Thankful for her comrade's assistance, Nadine then went to work. The priestess was adamant to stop the Kaynian from passing through.

''Sarroth prepare to-''

Cutting the Ghost off was the gate sending an energy spike. It could only mean that the gate was almost finished with its fourth stage and was now moving to the fifth. Vee rushed to scan the energy spike before figuring they were too late.

''What was that?''

[Oh, no!]

''Vee, what is it?''

[Tale, we're too late! The gate is opening the wormhole!]

Indeed, they were too late. Unbeknownst to them, the Kaynian Lord has initiated the gate to proceed to its fifth stage with only eight pillars. Receiving the emergency authorization from the Kaynian, the gate started to expand the wormhole's dimension to allow for entrance.

[Tale! We need to move out of here now! Whatever is on the other side, we wouldn't stand a chance!]

''All combatants move out of the gate's perimeter!''

Nadine was in shock and awe. In front of them was the very thing that could destroy them all. The priestess was in tears, being too late to stop the invaders. Noticing Nadine's shock, Hector immediately carried her back to the beast before riding off. Tears started to erupt from the priestess, knowing that they had failed to protect Eldrant. Another energy spike erupted from the gate. This time, it was much stronger than the last. The members of Tip of the Spear needed to find cover first before they could retaliate. The deactivation of the gate was now impossible to perform. The gate's destruction was the only way to deny Kaynian troops from Mars making their way to Eldrant.

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

Meanwhile, on board the ENS Javelin. Captain Jules was horrified as he and his officers saw the gate opening its wormhole. The light frigate was on red alert. Crews went to their stations, and the turret operators prepared their magic cannons. Javelin had everything ready to conduct her aerial bombardment of the gate. The wormhole started to increase its size. And merely eight pillars in total. The gate could only have an eight-hundred-meter diameter wormhole. Meaning it couldn't receive any Kaynian vessels other than a corvette. But that wasn't the Kaynian Lord's intention.

''Master the Javelin is requesting permission to bombard the gate!''

[Wait! No! Tell them to stop!]

''Why, Lady Vee?''

[If the Javelin were to damage the gate at its current state. It could lose control of the wormhole and consume all of Eldrant!]

Sarroth was shocked upon hearing Vee's explanation. If the Javelin were to destroy one of the pillars, it could result in the wormhole being unstable and becoming abnormally huge enough to consume a planet. The blade spirit then establishes a connection between her and the Javelin to warn them.

''Captain Jules, do not engage the gate! I repeat, do not engage the gate!''

''Why is that, Lady Sarroth? The gate is opening its portal! We must fire for pantheon's sake!''

''That's just it, Captain! If the Javelin were to fire her magic cannons, it could cause the gate to lose hold of its wormhole! And would consume all of Eldrant!''

''Damn, it...''

''...Gunnery officer! Tell the turret operators to hold their magic cannons at bay!''

The gunnery officer looked shocked upon hearing the Captain's commander. But if the former queen announced that firing on the gate would destroy all of Eldrant. The officer didn't have a choice and relayed it to the turret operators.

* Date: September 30, 2173

* Time: 9:10 AM

* Location: UGS Midway Bridge

On board the Midway Class Battle Carrier stood Fleet Admiral Arthur Kingstone. When the Kaynians arrived on Earth's solar system, everything changed. Countless lives were lost, ships of all sizes destroyed, and soldiers dead on the worlds the U.G.E. governed. Within three weeks of struggle against the Kaynian invaders, billions had perished. Whether you were a human or an artificial intelligence, it did not matter who or what you were. But hope lingered, the burning flame of hope. And that hope would grant us strength in our darkest of times. After the battle of Luna, after enduring the pain inflicted on Earth and its people. We fought back with every inch of strength at our disposal. And now, the liberation of Mars was at hand. The two-point-eight-kilometer-long Battle Carrier stood in defiance during the first hours of the invasion of Mars. Midway was the last Battle Carrier of its class. Its sister ships, UGS Franklin D. Roosevelt and UGS Coral Sea. Were lost during the opening stages of the war. But despite all that, the A.F.E., under the leadership of Fleet Admiral Arthur Kingstone. Earth and its people had a fighting chance.

''Three weeks. That's how long it took us to get Mars back, but it wasn't always this way. When the war started, we took the beating of our lives. Of course, we lost plenty of talented people in this war...''

''...Queen status report of the marines on the ground.''

[Certainly, Admiral. The last Kaynian stronghold on the northern Arctic of Mars is holding its ground quite fiercely. Our marines have also reported a Sentinel guarding the Kaynian stronghold. Major Jonathan has requested nuclear torpedo bombardment on the Sentinel to destroy it.]

''Hmm, if we keep nuking Mars. There won't be anything left there for us to rebuild.''

[Such as the war we find ourselves in, Admiral.]

Sentinels were nasty pieces of Kaynian technology. Reaching several meters in height, they were capable of wiping armies. Sentinels arm themselves with powerful energy cannons on their arms, shoulders, or torsos. A menacing foe but not impossible to destroy. Nukes were an easy choice, but they would leave deadly radiation.

[Admiral, you have an urgent call from Sergeant Major Ethan.]

Turning his attention to his holo screen, the Fleet Admiral wondered what the sergeant major had to say.

''Very well, bring him up.''

[Certainly.]

The holo screen then projected the face of a Cyclops head of an infantry drone. Sargent Major's nameplate was visible on his right breast. The nameplate showed his A.I. name instead of his human name, E/10.

''Sargent Major report.''

[Definitely, plenty of bad guys here, Admiral, and General Jonathan wants that nuclear bombardment on that Sentinel.]

''Damn it. Is it that bad down there, Sergeant Major?''

[Yes, sir. We've been bombarding the adversary with artillery and missiles. But the stronghold continues to provide the Sentinel with power, sustaining its energy shields]

''Queen, what do you have on that Sentinels location?''

The ship A.I. displayed numerous two-dimensional and three-dimensional images before the Admiral. He saw the Sentinel that has been a hard nut to crack. When the Marines were that desperate to nuke this thing into oblivion, Kingstone might have authorized such an attack.

[My deep scans and a quick search of the Sentinels position. Shows that our enemies are desperate to hold us back. It's interesting to think about. But take a look at this Admiral.]

Queen showed energy signatures that Arthur recognizes; if this were the case, this might be more than he anticipated.

[Energy signature similar to the one: Sword and Shield; were tasked with destroying three days ago. What do you think they're hiding on that stronghold?]

''That's what we're about to find out...''

''...Sargent Major, tell General Jonathan that I've authorized the use of nukes. Pull back any marine and armor elements you have on the ground.''

Delighted by the Admiral's response, Ethan did the equivalent of a human smile.

[Roger that, I'll relay your order to the General. Ethan out!]

The holo screen then cuts out its connection to the sergeant major. Afterward, the Admiral replaced his holo screen with details regarding the Sentinel. If the stronghold was this important to the Kaynians, the Fleet Admiral couldn't ignore this.

[So, nothing too noteworthy?]

''If that stronghold relates to the one that S.&.S. took down. It could turn the situation of this war upside down.''

[Taking a risk, Admiral?]

''Uhmm, if we don't find the cause of this energy signature, then we might lose this war.''

Rubbing his temple, Arthur was taking a chance about the Kaynian stronghold being something else entirely. Luckily, they were winning, meaning that whether or not they found out what it was, it wouldn't matter. But the Admiral had a sneaking suspicion that wouldn't be the case.

[Admiral, energy spike detected.]

''Where!''

[The stronghold, Admiral. It originated from the Kaynian stronghold.]

''I want torpedos ready for that Sentinel. Inform the General that he and his men-''

[Slip space portal detected.]

On the surface of Mars, an eight-hundred-meter diameter portal appeared on the Kaynian stronghold. Subsequently, the Kaynian troops and the Sentinel made their way to the slip space portal. Arthur looked at the slip space portal, causing him to sweat.

''Battle stations! Inform the fleet to get into battle stations! The Kaynians just pulled something up, and we will act accordingly. ''

''Admiral, General Jonathan is requesting to follow the Kaynians.''

''Declined, tell him to stay put. We have those nukes he asked for on the way!''

''Understood!''

The Midway Bridge bustled with activity. Upon detecting the slip space portal, the weaponry of the Battle Carrier spun into action. Point defense lasers, vertically launched missiles, and nuclear-guided torpedos were getting prepared.

''Queen eta on those nukes?''

[Thirty seconds until launch.]

''Have our fighter and bomber drones ready!''

[Of course, I've already contacted our pilots. They should be ready in sixty seconds.]

The Midways nuclear-guided torpedos had finally prepared to fire. All it took to launch these moon-busting torpedos was the Admiral's word. But the word wouldn't come.

[Admiral, the slip space portal seems to be shrinking.]

''Shrinking?''

[Yes, Admiral, It's starting to dissipate too, and radiation levels are normalizing.]

''What about the Kaynian forces?''

[They seem to have escaped through the slip space portal, Admiral.]

Fleet Admiral Arthur Kingstone would release a sigh of relief. What did this all mean? Of course, they have finally won the war. But Kingstone wasn't a fool about thinking they overcame the Kaynian menace. For all they know, what attacked them was a small taste of their power.

''Queen, get me a line to Earth.''

To Be Continued.